25 November – Portugal The rough seas continued and in the afternoon everyone was confined inside because even the side decks were too dangerous. In the morning during a brief break in the weather we were able to go up to the helicopter pad and marvel at the rainbows that felt so close you could…

Day 16 – 3 December – Liberia Out of the doldrums! The storms of the previous evening were the first clue. Gone are the glassy waters and still, heavy air. We have entered the region of the trade winds and towering marshmallow clouds (“cumulo-nimbus” if we’re going to get technical about it), known as the…

After nearly one month of navigation, through The North Sea and the Atlantic, the ship has arrived in South Africa. It is time to gear up for the first leg of The Antarctica Circumnavigation Expedition. Students of the Maritime University disembark while scientists get ready to head South!